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Israelis Hit the Polls in Hotly Contested Election

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- A high turnout is expected in Israel's hotly contested national elections Tuesday.

Election Day is a national holiday, with schools and many businesses closed but public transportation running on a normal schedule.

Israelis began voting as early as 7 a.m. at more than 10,000 polling stations nationwide. Polls close at 10 p.m.

Disabled or hospitalized citizens, as well people serving time in prison or detention centers also have opportunity to vote.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were among the early voters at a Jerusalem school.

Internal polls show his Likud Party may have closed the gap on the Zionist Union, co-led by Labor chairman Isaac (Yitzhak) Herzog and Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni.

Herzog voted at a Tel Aviv school.

All of Israel's 26 parties will focus on the first results, expected late this evening Israeli time.

In Israel's electoral system, citizens theoretically vote for a party rather than a person. With his or her vote counting toward a party's total number of mandates in the Knesset or parliament.

An estimated 20 percent of undecided voters could determine the winner.

After meeting with party leaders to discuss the formation of a coalition, President Reuven Rivlin will decide which party has the best shot at forming a stable coalition, made up of not less than 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

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